A while ago, I wrote a post about pampering yourself, as it is a key to stress relief. Well, I just recently pampered myself for the first time since having a baby, and wow did I feel good!! It felt like a whole new experience to get my nails done and go to the mall just to stroll! No changing diapers, no feeding, no rocking a baby to sleep, I was all by myself, enjoyed a long mani-pedi with a small back massage and it really did change my entire mindset! I went from feeling so stressed and tired to being super relieved and really happy :). Pampering myself has become a new priority, because I learned that going almost 3 months without any self-care really caused my sanity to spiral out of control! Whatever it is that is keeping you from taking care of yourself, drop it now and put yourself first. Find a friend, spouse, parent, or a babysitter to take care of your kid(s), or set a goal to treat yourself to something after a big assignment, or leave work early if you are guilty of over-working yourself! Just take an hour (or five) to spend on yourself, and do whatever it is that you really miss.

I know a lot of people who have let stress take over their lives. Some people are affected physically by it, and you can tell by their deteriorating health that they are not taking care of themselves, and others are affected mentally by it, which is scary since it is not as obvious to the people around you. Whether you let stress affect you physically or mentally (or both), you need to learn to stop and take a time out. I learned a lot just from taking a personal break, and I hope you can find time to do the same.

I apologize for disappearing for an entire week of blogging, and I thank those of you dedicated readers who did come back looking for a stress relief tip for the day! I guess I just needed a break! Not that I actual need a break from writing or letting out all of my thoughts, but, sometimes, life just gets in the way!

So, it reminded me that it’s a good idea to just take a step back every now and then. We can’t do it all – no matter how hard we push ourselves. I think we would find a lot more energy to finish certain tasks (at home and at work) if we remind ourselves that it’s okay if we don’t finish everything on the to-do list and if we force some things to just wait. Whether you are a mother who feels like a chauffeur, an involved community activist/philanthropist, working two jobs or working and studying, a dedicated friend, or employee or spouse, etc., I have no doubt you are stressed. While many have turned into superman/woman, they have also turned into stress-balls.

Sometimes a break is just what we are looking for to give us time to think, time to relax and time to rejuvenate. In my opinion, it is probably one of the best ways to beat stress. Our minds can recharge to be more creative and our bodies can recharge to be more energetic. So to all of you out there, just take a break and allow yourself to relax, just once!

It seems as though everyone around me is getting sick. Make sure you fight off anything you may see sneaking up on you, so you can enjoy your weekend! Today’s stress relief tip is to boost your immunity, so you don’t have to deal with the added stress of getting sick! These are my favorite tips to stay healthy and well during “flu season,” “cold season,” “allergy season,” ok – all seasons!

Drink LOTS of tea – there are many different teas that help fight colds. The trick is to add Lemon and Honey to them, because Lemon is high in Vitamin C (and my mom always tells me it’s good for stomach aches and cold and flu symptoms), and Honey is good for the immune system and for sore throats. And, I have read that Ginger is considered a natural remedy for the cold/flu, among many other ailments.

Also, I prefer to drink a lot of Echinacea Tea (I drink the Yogi Tea brand, but not with tea and honey). Echinacea root is considered an herbal remedy for a weak immune system. I feel that drinking lots of Echinacea tea helps prevent oncoming colds and strengthens the body and immune system when feeling weak. If you don’t like the tea, many people opt for the Echinacea supplements.

Vitamin C – I think we all know the benefits of vitamin C, and who doesn’t have a stash of Emergen-C or Airborne in their medicine cabinet? I think it’s important to boost your immune system with natural vitamin C, but you can always increase your intake by drinking lots of the supplement packets with water, or the actual vitamin C pills.

Finally, get LOTS of sleep! I know we don’t always have time to sleep during the day, or we may not sleep enough during the night, but your body will not repair itself fully until you are at total rest. Try to sleep as much as you can so your body can re-energize.

These are my immunity boosting “secrets,” so hopefully they will work for you, too! Hopefully, you can fight it off before you have to take the actual medicines to make you feel better, or to sleep through the night.

Nothing beats stress like a good day of pampering. I personally feel so refreshed after a good mani/pedi, which, luckily comes with such a great massage! (At least if you go to the right place – that’s criteria for me!). Too often our busy lives get in the way of our personal pampering. It’s so important to take care of your body from the inside and out. So whatever it is that makes you feel good – a hair cut, sun tanning, massage, facials…any type of relaxing and beautifying treatment (yes, I know you guys do it, too) – make sure you save some personal time to spoil yourself. It’s also important to make it a habit. Try to schedule these types of things once a month. In an ideal world, we’d do all of the above once a month! But I know nobody has time for that.

Remember, stress can lead to high blood pressure, muscle spasms, and headaches or migraines, among other things. Treating yourself to a relaxing spa-type session will help reduce such tensions, and, my favorite, can promote better breathing. Try to alleviate your stress by doing something that relaxes you this weekend. Pick up the phone and make an appointment 🙂

It’s spring time, meaning it’s the most enjoyable weather of the year! (Aside from the allergies…). If the weather permits, go make the most of your weekend by spending it outdoors. One of my favorite ways to spend my time is with friends and with food…so organize a BBQ this weekend. Grilling is so easy and there is always one willing volunteer who will offer his/her grilling services. If you have a friend with a backyard call them up and plan a small gathering. If you have the backyard, take the initiative to call up some friends and get everyone together. This is a good way to wind down and relax.

If you like crawfish, it’s a great time for a crawfish broil, and if you don’t, it’s always the right time of year for fajitas or burgers. Also, throwing some chicken cutlets onto a skewer with veggies or peppers is a really easy and healthy option. If you just want to contribute to the meal, some easy and nice ideas are corn on the cob (boiling only takes 10 min) with some added seasoning and butter or a tossed salad.